Parrotfish

Title: Parrotfish
Author: Ellen Wittlinger

Publication Date: July 10, 2007
Genres: Fiction
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
ISBN-10: 1416916229
ISBN-13: 9781416916222

** This review is for readers that have already read Parrotfish.

I must say that I indulged myself into this novel. The subject was a bit touchy but Wittlinger did a great job of making me feel at ease with the various dialogues Grady comes up with. Her internal conversations bring lay out the foundation for the novel. It’s a way of addressing what popular media portrays transgendered persons as and defying those definitions.

What I loved about the novel the most was its humor. It makes the book easier to read and at the same time gave the book a feeling of optimism.

I usually don’t like reading novels that feel constructed but I love comedy in all its forms. I especially love reading about topics that are taboo. The taboo subjects interest me the most because as Wittlinger points out, why does society restrict us into such cookie-cutter categories? Despite all the reforms we’ve been through, it seems that our society is not as tolerance as we should be. It was interesting to learn how Native Americans portray transgendered persons as “free spirits.”

Despite this being a realistic novel, I did not, for one moment, believe this could be a true account. The transsexual girl who the most popular girl in school likes, lives in the Christmas house, and was home schooled until high school. Her life seems like a fairy tale when inspected closely. Her family members at most were average. They could also be defined as flat characters.

There was an attempt at not making the ending a Cinderella story yet it was. Again this is the construction that I was speaking of. I almost wish the story was more complex but as this is a novel meant for young adults its okay. The problem is, I don’t love okay, what I love is exceptional. Yes I enjoyed the book but I would have LOVED it, if it has more depth.

After reading other reader reviews I was amazed to find out that “PARROTFISH is one of the first young adult novels to address transgender issues” (http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/parrotfish). For being one of the few I must give credit to the Wittlinger for exposing young minds to this subject. I hope other authors also follow in her footsteps and can engage us in novels that enrich our understanding of ourselves, stereotypes, and how to deal with them.

I'm Back

Guess what? I’m back. I was reading my cousin’s blog and I decided to continue this blog. It was inspiring to read her blog and find that you don’t need your blog to center around a specific theme. As long as it’s enjoyable to you, it will be enjoyable for others to read. I scare myself with the way I make rush decisions sometimes but in my experience, sometimes in life, you have to take chances. I don’t want to say to myself one day, I wonder what would have happened if…. I don’t want that to be the story of my live. Just letting opportunities pass me by.

One of the opportunities I never pass by is traveling. I LOVE TO TRAVEL. One of my favorite places to visit is Dominican Republic. On my last trip there I vowed I would go the beach and I don’t regret it. I went in January with my sister, father, my aunt, and cousins. I forget the name of the beach but it was in Puerto Plata. It’s amazing to get a glimpse of it from far away. It’s breathtaking.

On my last trip, I went on a Chinese bus tour to Maine. Yeah, there are a plenty of funny stories from that trip. I know I’m peculiar but I love diversity. I am definitely the type of person that embraces differences in people.

I would like to take a trip back to Santo Domingo one day. Last time I was in the capitol, all I saw was just so much poverty everywhere. I hope that with short economic boom DR had recently, living conditions have improved. I can only hope. There was also a huge drug problem last I was there… Not sure if the drugs are coming from Columbia or Mexico. I know it was coming in from Columbia and then being sneaked into the USA.

End Note: I’m so glad to be back. Yes, I love you all too (whoever reads this). Hasta la proxima!

Creating a new Blog

So I have decided to follow my heart and write a blog about my favorite TV Novelas and dramas. Although I wanted to write often on my Bonifacio, Dominican not Italian blog, I have not been writing nearly as much as I would have liked to. I do love all the artwork that I have posted on here though.

In summary, this is my last entry. No worries, I will be merging posts from this blog to the new one. I believe I have had one reader, my husband. I might show the blog to my new kitten but I doubt I will.

Cya in my new blog!

BloGGG!! Addictions

HOT NEW: Wow I am impressed with how many entries I have. Well today is confession day. I must admit that I have been bad. I am currently semi-addicted to:
Cityville
Dragons of Atlantis
Restaurant City
Market Street
Games
Cafe Life
Bubble Island (haven't play that in a month)

I must say the first two I am more addicted than the others, I can do without them.

It's interesting how two years ago I didn't play any games at all. My friend YDJ was really into Cafe World, and that was my introduction to Facebook games. I have gone as far as creating a separate Facebook account just for gaming. I had to. As much as the game is fun, I noticed other people were cluttering my page with game posts and I was spamming other people with my game posts as well. I decided I needed a solution.

I currently only spam people that want to be spammed. People that play the game on a daily basis like me.

What makes me worried is not only the amount of time I dedicate to these games, but the amount of time OTHER people dedicate to these games. I am married with no children. I find all kinds of people playing FB games and I am wondering, especially those that have children, if perhaps their time should be redirected elsewhere.

Perhaps people have always been like this though. If you think about it, not only on the online world but you can find additions in everyday life. Adrenaline rush, television, alcohol, smoking, their work etc. Perhaps everyone has their addition but it just so happens that some are accepted while others are shunned upon.

Hummm... it's an idea but even I know that's not true. Everything in moderation, that's what they say, right? Right?

Side Note: I really am addicted to Facebook games, what the hell is semi- addicted anyways. Hello, I dedicated a whole blog post to it!!

Sounds Come Alive

As I lay in my bed
Tyring to clear my head

I hear sounds all around
That disturb my thoughts, the night, my life

Creeping, lurching in the shadows
stands a man that makes a claim
My clamy hands reach out and I shout
"Whose there?"
But no sounds come alive

How will I survive this lonely night
Knowing this man in my dreams
exsists in real life?

-Nancy B. Bonifacio-Bak

A Hectic Day

Hot News: I hate how expensive international air rates are.

So in the events of today, my grandmother in DR is really sick. I have been talking back and forth with family in Dominican Republic to try to see what is happening over there. My mom of course goes a-wall but somehow we managed to calm her down and wait to see how events unfold.

Quick note about D.R. - It's a third world country that shares the Island, Hispaniola, with Haiti. In case you're wondering if the rumors are true, yes, Dominicans ARE extremely racist towards the Haitian people. Why? Some say because of their dark skin, others because once upon a time Haiti had control over the entire Island and treated Dominicans as second class citizens and some are just pain afraid of Haitians practicing voodoo on them. Honestly, whatever the reason, racism is irrational and can not be justified by any means, yet it happens. My perspective: we need to educate ourselves and acknowledge that wrongs have been done on BOTH sides. Right now Haiti is going through a crisis and we should lend a helping hand. I am aware of the 6 million dollars president Leonel Fernandez gave Haiti when the earthquake went down and the packed Dominican hospitals but somehow the feeling still lingers that change does not happen that fast. Years of rivalry won't end that easily. Still, I'm hoping for the best.

On a Side Note: My grandmother seems to be doing well. My father has gone down to the hospital and will keep me updated on the events. He's been in DR for the past 4 months.

Closing Note: When I figure out how to post pictures I'll put one up of my beautiful island. Ciao Blog.

First Entry

Hot News: A protest is happening in the streets of Egypt. It's mind boggling when countries we rarely hear news about, all of a sudden just storm to the forefront. A lot of this has been happening more recently. An estimated 20,000 protesters in both Cairo and Alexandria gathered together to boot out the current president from office. Astonishing!

For me, the biggest news came last January with the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti. A hurricane of that strength comes around and it just so happens to hit the poorest nation on the Western hemisphere… It hit home for me since Haiti’s neighboring country is Dominican Republic. I didn’t even know we could get earthquakes. I thought we’d be exempt from earthquakes as we’re stuck with hurricanes every summer. Mother Nature works in mysterious way.

In my opinion, all predictions regarding Haiti have come true. Other nations seem to just be throwing money Haiti's way, but, progress is not coming soon enough. Haiti has recently has been struck again with another disaster, Cholera. Can it get worse??? I fear it's possible but I'd rather keep those thoughts to myself.

On a Personal Note: I am excitedly waiting for my interview with the NYC teaching fellows on Thursday. Unusually I started this blog, months before I must go to my true calling and perhaps this blog will cease abruptly. I don't expect to have any flowerers for this blog, so the termination of this blog doesn't bother me at all.

End Note: I hope everyone receives the knowledge they were meant to get. As for me, I'll be venting out my frustrations and delights here again next time.